I admit I get annoyed when I find something I want and the person doesn't ship outside the US. It is their right and I think in most cases they want to avoid customs fees. But, I doesn't stop me from being a bit ticked!!
International postage rates are high, and buyers don't want to pay them. That is the main reason.
At this current time with covid running rampant and on the increase, ALL postal systems have difficulty in coping.
Royal Mail were only shipping the US West Coast mail as far as Chicago. Australia Post were only accepting ALL incoming airmail into Sydney. Nothing in Perth, Melbourne etc.
Its been on the news over here that the USPS in trouble and saying they won't be able to cope with the mail votes in the US election.
Buyers and Sellers are having to wait weeks/months for their items to be delivered so I am surprised that some are "ticked" because they cannot "buy" a particular stamp.
" .... Buyers and Sellers are having to wait weeks/months
for their items to be delivered so I am surprised that some
are "ticked" because they cannot "buy" a particular stamp. ...."
But look the sunny side. When I get an envelope that has been
in the safe keeping of the USPS or where ever forever, I think,
"Now what the heck is in this envelope ?" I seldom recall what
should be within so it is a welcome surprise, sort of like X-mas
in July, or August. At least the cover made it from its posting
place in one piece and there is no charge for storage.
"..... Look a little on the sunny side
Even when they say you're on the slide
And for a while they'll say your records never make it
But in a while they're gonna be showering you with praises
They'll give you mediocre reviews
And put you in the underground for a while
But look a little on the funny, sunny side of life
Look a little on the sunny side >...."
The Kinks, 1970 something
"I admit I get annoyed when I find something I want and the person doesn't ship outside the US. It is their right and I think in most cases they want to avoid customs fees."
Buyers pay the customs fees, if any - not sellers.
I know buyers pay the fees, but I think some sellers might be trying to avoid charging the fees by not selling outside the US. I would have to think twice about buying a few dollars worth of stamps if the seller was going to tack on that extra amount. There have been several threads on the morality or legality of not charging the fees - no need to go there again, it's been covered!
I mailed an envelope to Japan on April 22 and it was finally delivered today.
" I would have to think twice about buying a few dollars worth of stamps if the seller was going to tack on that extra amount."
Harvey,
Sellers do not tack on Customs Fees to their shipping. Such fees are an import tax assessed to the buyer by the buyer's country for dutiable goods. There's no way that a seller could collect those taxes and then forward it on to the buyer's country.
Brechinite said,
"What is the total amount of the stamps purchased a buyer will be happy to pay to "cover" the postage?"
Sheepshanks:-
All of what you say is correct.
It can be difficult for some sellers to keep track of which buyer requires you to hold back invoices until they decide they have reached their level and god help the seller if they inadvertently send an invoice too early.
I tried to send an invoice every time a buyer bought something, just to let them know how much everything was costing up to that point along with the shipping costs and so that I knew everything was up to date.
Unfortunately some buyers took umbrage at getting an invoice for half a dozen stamps thinking I was demanding payment immediately. When I explained it was just to let them know how things stood and I wasn't seeking immediate payment some buyers then let things slide and never paid for 2-3 months.
Some buyers "buy" half a dozen stamps at 10 cents and you never hear from them again.
Some buyers say "Don't invoice me yet as I'll buy more from you" and after a month do you send them an invoice for the half dozen stamps as they've never bought anything else?
Some buyers run up to $50.00 worth over a month or two, expect cheap postage and the seller then has to refund when the package gets lost in the post.
I know we are a club and most sellers are flexible but please please treat the sellers with some consideration.
Some sellers limit the countries they are ready to ship to. That is 100% their right. However, I wonder about the rationale of some limitations. I understand some want to restrict to their home country, for customs reason for example, some do not want to ship to countries known for unreliable postal system. What is the rationale for a very limited list, e.g. US, Canada, and a European country, excluding extremely well-run countries such as Switzerland? I would like to hear a few of those rationale. Keep safe, Michel
re: Country Limitation
I admit I get annoyed when I find something I want and the person doesn't ship outside the US. It is their right and I think in most cases they want to avoid customs fees. But, I doesn't stop me from being a bit ticked!!
re: Country Limitation
International postage rates are high, and buyers don't want to pay them. That is the main reason.
re: Country Limitation
At this current time with covid running rampant and on the increase, ALL postal systems have difficulty in coping.
Royal Mail were only shipping the US West Coast mail as far as Chicago. Australia Post were only accepting ALL incoming airmail into Sydney. Nothing in Perth, Melbourne etc.
Its been on the news over here that the USPS in trouble and saying they won't be able to cope with the mail votes in the US election.
Buyers and Sellers are having to wait weeks/months for their items to be delivered so I am surprised that some are "ticked" because they cannot "buy" a particular stamp.
re: Country Limitation
" .... Buyers and Sellers are having to wait weeks/months
for their items to be delivered so I am surprised that some
are "ticked" because they cannot "buy" a particular stamp. ...."
But look the sunny side. When I get an envelope that has been
in the safe keeping of the USPS or where ever forever, I think,
"Now what the heck is in this envelope ?" I seldom recall what
should be within so it is a welcome surprise, sort of like X-mas
in July, or August. At least the cover made it from its posting
place in one piece and there is no charge for storage.
"..... Look a little on the sunny side
Even when they say you're on the slide
And for a while they'll say your records never make it
But in a while they're gonna be showering you with praises
They'll give you mediocre reviews
And put you in the underground for a while
But look a little on the funny, sunny side of life
Look a little on the sunny side >...."
The Kinks, 1970 something
re: Country Limitation
"I admit I get annoyed when I find something I want and the person doesn't ship outside the US. It is their right and I think in most cases they want to avoid customs fees."
Buyers pay the customs fees, if any - not sellers.
re: Country Limitation
I know buyers pay the fees, but I think some sellers might be trying to avoid charging the fees by not selling outside the US. I would have to think twice about buying a few dollars worth of stamps if the seller was going to tack on that extra amount. There have been several threads on the morality or legality of not charging the fees - no need to go there again, it's been covered!
re: Country Limitation
I mailed an envelope to Japan on April 22 and it was finally delivered today.
re: Country Limitation
" I would have to think twice about buying a few dollars worth of stamps if the seller was going to tack on that extra amount."
re: Country Limitation
Harvey,
Sellers do not tack on Customs Fees to their shipping. Such fees are an import tax assessed to the buyer by the buyer's country for dutiable goods. There's no way that a seller could collect those taxes and then forward it on to the buyer's country.
re: Country Limitation
Brechinite said,
"What is the total amount of the stamps purchased a buyer will be happy to pay to "cover" the postage?"
re: Country Limitation
Sheepshanks:-
All of what you say is correct.
It can be difficult for some sellers to keep track of which buyer requires you to hold back invoices until they decide they have reached their level and god help the seller if they inadvertently send an invoice too early.
I tried to send an invoice every time a buyer bought something, just to let them know how much everything was costing up to that point along with the shipping costs and so that I knew everything was up to date.
Unfortunately some buyers took umbrage at getting an invoice for half a dozen stamps thinking I was demanding payment immediately. When I explained it was just to let them know how things stood and I wasn't seeking immediate payment some buyers then let things slide and never paid for 2-3 months.
Some buyers "buy" half a dozen stamps at 10 cents and you never hear from them again.
Some buyers say "Don't invoice me yet as I'll buy more from you" and after a month do you send them an invoice for the half dozen stamps as they've never bought anything else?
Some buyers run up to $50.00 worth over a month or two, expect cheap postage and the seller then has to refund when the package gets lost in the post.
I know we are a club and most sellers are flexible but please please treat the sellers with some consideration.